popmusiclife: M.I.A. could pay FCC fine for Super Bowl middle finger

It’s too early to tell if M.I.A.’s middle finger salute during Madonna’s Super Bowl performance on Sunday is going to be an expensive gesture.

M.I.A. looked directly at the camera during her portion of Madonna’s single, “Give Me All Your Luvin’,” and threw the finger up before NBC could switch camera angles.

If the FCC gets involved and decides to issue a fine for the incident, TMZ reports M.I.A. will end up paying the bill.

Sources tell TMZ that the NFL has indemnified NBC, because the NFL is responsible for the halftime content.

TMZ reports M.I.A. signed a contract with the NFL for the halftime performance, and in that contract she agreed to indemnify the NFL for any money it might be forced to pay if the FCC issues a penalty for the performance.

In 2004, CBS was hit with a $550,000 FCC fine after Janet Jackson's famous wardrobe malfunction, but that fine was later thrown out by a federal appeals court.

M.I.A.’s gesture was in sync with the theme of her new single, “Bad Girls,” which was released last Friday.

Watch the full Madonna Super Bowl performance here.

Stay tuned.

M.I.A. middle finger salute
Madonna – Give Me All Your Luvin’
Super Bowl 46 – Indianapolis, IN – February 5, 2012